Wedding in Italy British Citizens 
Getting married in Italy is possible, provided you allow yourself suitable time to deal with legal bureaucracy. Alternatively you can decide to legally tie the knot privately in your country and then organize a symbolic wedding in Italy and celebrate in one of the most romantic countries in the world.
But let’s have a look at each possibility for a wedding in Italy:
Civil legally binding wedding ceremony
Civil Ceremonies are legally binding and will normally be performed in the local Register Office (Anagrafe) and last approximately 20 minutes. The ceremony will be conducted in Italian and you are legally obliged to have an interpreter present throughout the ceremony, even if you or your partner can speak Italian. The interpreter must be a professional signing and making oath to translate accordingly.
Religious Ceremony
A Roman Catholic wedding is legally binding and recognised by the Italian authorities, because they contain a civil element within the service, therefore it will not be necessary to perform a separate civil ceremony. The ceremony will be performed in the local Roman Catholic Church, but first you will have had to contact your local parish priest in the UK to help you prepare. It would be very unlikely that any catholic church in Rome would permit the marriage of non-catholics. As long as one or both are catholic that is OK.
Please NOTE: Lucca diocese do not allow catholic wedding of non residents
Other religious ceremonies
If you wish to have any other type of religious ceremony (those religions that are not recognized by the italian governement) you will be required to have a civil ceremony first, otherwise the marriage will not be legally binding under any law. In such cases couples may wish to have a civil ceremony in the UK and have a blessing in Italy.
Residency Stay
Where both parties to the marriage are British nationals and living in Italy you will require residence in the Consular district for the 21 days immediately prior to giving the notice of marriage, and the posting of this notice of marriage in the Consulate for a further 21 clear days.
Where both parties are British nationals and both are resident in the United Kingdom there is no requirement for a residency stay (bans) in Italy for getting married. As long as they are there to do the necessary pre-wedding declaration (compulsory) for civil marriages. You should contact your Registrar, in the town where you wish to marry, in advance of your wedding day, for further information.
Legally binding wedding in Italy ceremony
British nationals should first give notice of their Marriage, to the Superintending Registrar, in their local district, where they live in the UK. The couple will need to wait between 17 to 23 days whilst the banns are publicised. After which time provided there are no complications, the couple will be issued with a certificate of No Impediment.
This document along with your Basic Documents and the first five pages of your passport must be sent to competent British Consulate in the Italian city where you wish to marry (find here the full list of consulates). Once the paperwork is with the Consulate (anticipated electonically) you or your wedding planner have to personally go to the consulate and bring the original documentation and collect the Nulla Osta. This must be taken to the Anagrafe (Italian Registry office) in order to book a date for the wedding (this applies to Rome). Some rural areas may allow a wedding date to be reserved and then finalised on presentation of the Nulla Osta.
Consular Fees
Please be aware that the processing of your documents is subject to consular fees.
Visit the British Embassy, Italy web site for a list of the consular fees.
Please consider to be in the city where you will get married to swear a declaration in front of the authorities with a simultaneous translator a couple of days before the wedding.
Marriage Certificate
Once the ceremony has been performed you will be issued with a Marriage Certificate in multi-language. This is not needed to be authenticated and you can bring it to your local registrar or do it through the Consular Officer in the town where the marriage was performed who will forward it on your request to the General Registrar Office in the UK. Your marriage will not be registered in the UK, your marriage certificate will merely be deposited for their records, and consequently your original marriage certificate will not be returned to you. This in no way makes your marriage invalid. Should you both need your marriage certificate in the future the General Register Office can issue you with a certificate, should the need arise.
Basic Documentation
If you intend to marry in Italy you will need the following documentation:
- A full birth certificate (which have to include your parents full names).
- A valid passport.
- An affidavit declaring single status authorised by a notary or solicitor declaring eligibility for marriage.
- If divorced, a Decree of Absolute and an affidavit declaring martial status and eligibility to marry.
- If widowed a spouses death certificate, previous marriage certificate and an affidavit authorised by a notary or solicitor declaring eligibility for marriage.
- Written consent from your parents or guardians (if either of you are under 18 years of age).
- If you have changed your name by Deed Poll or you were adapted, proof of this needs to be presented.
For further information:
Embassy of Italy in London
14, Three Kings Yard
London
W1K 4EH
Tel: +442073122200
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
Tel: +442072701500
source: http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk
